A Tucson judge has sentenced a man to prison for his role in an online romance scam that targeted two elderly Arizona residents, officials say.
Pima County Superior Court Judge Richard Gordon on March 26 sentenced Donald Franklin Huegel, of California, to four years in prison, followed by three years on probation. A hearing will be set later to determine restitution, the Arizona Attorney General's Office said in a news release.
"No Arizonan deserves to be manipulated emotionally and defrauded of their hard-earned money – especially elderly Arizonans, state Attorney General Kris Mayes said in the release. "This sentencing serves as a stark warning to those who prey on individuals through deception and fraud: we will hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law."
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The first woman in the case responded to a fake online profile and began a romantic dialog with someone she believed was named "Chad Callahan."
When the woman resisted sending "Chad" money, she was contacted by other members of the romance scam who told her that her identity had been placed on the Dark Web.
The woman sent over $90,000 to four different accounts trying to clear her name, the release said. Huegel received $26,000 in that part of the scam, the release said. After the her ability to transfer funds electronically had been stopped, the woman mailed Huegel an additional money order for $24,000, the release said.
A second woman sent over $367,000 to Huegel. She was also taken in by a fake profile for "Michael Williams" on Match.com.
Huegel was convicted by a jury of fraudulent schemes and artifices, illegally conducting an enterprise, money laundering, and theft, the release said.
If you believe you have been the victim of fraud, go to www.azag.gov/complaints/criminal to file a complaint. If you need a complaint form sent to you, contact the Attorney General’s Office at (602) 542-8888.
